See maps showing where 938 homes near Floyds Fork and The Parklands would be built

The Oakland Hills subdivision is expanding adding more than 900 homes next to the new park, raising eyebrows in some corners. Proceeds are to be used for the park's endowment, but some wonder why the rush to develop before the state knows whether Floyds Fork can handle the added pollution.(Photo: Michael Clevenger/Louisville Courier Journal)Buy Photo

Need more information about that latest new development plan for near The Parklands of Floyds Fork? Here's some help.

Maps on file with Develop Louisville show exactly where more than 900 homes would be constructed adjacent to The Parklands and near the Floyds Fork waterway as part of the Oakland Hills subdivision expansion.

One map provided by Louisville Metro's planning and design agency shows the project outline and where the developers – 21st Century Parks Endowment – have requested a zoning change (track 2) to allow for 350 more multi-family homes.

Two others, which fit together along a black hatched "match line" submitted by the developers show the location of 588 planned single family lots and explain their preliminary plan, including notes on stormwater management, sewers and trees.

To find these two development plans and follow public records and planning efforts around them, go look up the case 17ZONE1081, here.

With the first public meeting on the plan Thursday, expect the issues to center around:

Traffic. People who live in the already developed portion of Oakland Hills are not happy about having additional vehicles on their streets. If entry and exit from the planned multi-family homes is routed through Broad Run Park, that could alter the park experience.

Water quality. The more pavement and buildings, the more chance for stormwater pollution. Also, can Floyds Fork – an increasingly popular recreational waterway – handle more effluent from sewage treatment plants without further degradation?

Endangered species. Will the developers protect the endangered Kentucky Glade Cress that grows in the area, and if so, how?

Trees. Tree canopy on the new project's 444 acres planned for single-family homes would go from 78 percent to 31 percent. That's about 15 percent more than would be required, but tree conservation has become a big concern in a city that's suffered losses of 54,000 trees a year. There's no word yet on how many trees will be lost – or protected – in the area planned for multi-family homes.

Regional impact. The proposal comes amid the latest effort to reach consensus among developers and local residents over how to balance growth and environmental protection in the semi-rural Floyds Fork area of eastern Louisville. Should developers wait until that South Floyds Fork Vision plan is completed, perhaps within the next several months?

Housing. Developers say demand housing is high now and the Oakland Hills proposal will meet that.

Funding The Parklands endowment. Proceeds from development would help pay for operations and maintenance at The Parklands. But developers have not said how much money would be raised and how it would be spent.